Automatic firearm



0. UMBERTQ Jan. 5,1932.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 24, 1931 dbtozmqd.

Jan. 5, 1932. Q UMBERTO 1,839,621

- AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Jan. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Ja1n-5, l932.

ONORATI UMBERTO, OF TOLEDO, OHII IO AUTOMATIC rmmmzi Application fl1ed January 24', 1931. Serial No. 510,855.

g This invention relates to an automatic fire arm, but more articularly to firearms of the character in w ich: the force of the recoil is utilized as a medium for feeding cartridges s to the barrels, and for the actuation of the mechanism by which the empty cartridge shells are ejected from the firearms after each firing operation and previous to the delivery. of the next cartridge to the gun barrel.

An objector my invention is to produce a simple and eflicient firearm having the novel features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

- In one aspect the invention consists of an automatic firearm either or" the pistol, rifle, or shot gun type, in which the magazine carrying the cartridges is disposed directly beneath and in parallel relation to the barrel. This enables the use of an exceptionally large magazine so that the firearm may be fired a great number of times without replenishing the cartridge supply. The length of the barrel is increased to insure greater accuracy of the bullet and greater rang of fire, and the length of the barrel determines the size of the magazine since the length of the magazine is substantially equal to the length of the barrel.

In another aspect, the invention consists in an automatic firearm having a plurality of barrels which may be discharged simultaneously, the cartridges being-concomitantly fed to the barrels and fired at the same time. This militates against an objection inherent 35 in the ordinary automaticfirearm in'which a single barrel is employed. It often happens that a defective cartridge is delivered to the barrel, and will not fire. Where a plurality of barrels are provided, at least one of the cartridges delivered thereto will probably be fired. Furthermore, by the use of a plurality of barrels arranged in parallel or substantially parallel relationship, the chances of hitting the mark, at which the firearm is aimed, are increased. Although there are distinct advantages in employing'a plurality of barrels in which the cartridges are simultaneou'sly fired, under some circumstances it may be desirable to fire one barrel, and not the other. This is accomplished by interruptby way of illustration, but not of limitation,

ing the feed of cartridges from all the magazlnes except one. After the cartridges from the respective magazines are fired another magazine may be adjusted to feed cartridges to the barrel. This is of advantage when the firearm is fired almost continuously since it enables one barrel to cool while another barrel is being fired.

In a still further aspect, the invention comprehends the use of a cable which, upon the recoil of a part of the firearm, is actuated to deliver the cartridges to the respective barrels. The cable may pass over a sheave and the cartridge feeder to which the cable is connected may move in a straight line path. 6 The construction. and arrangement are. simple and eficient, and such astoenable the weapon to be built at a relatively low cost.

Embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation on. the line 11 of Fig. 2 of an automatic pistol embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pistol shown in Fig.1; 1

Fig. '3 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the pistol looking into the barrels;

Fig. 8 is a-transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 showing the cartridge fee arrangement; I Y

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional elevation of an alternate form of cartridge feeder in which the cable is fixed to the outer end of the feeder plate;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a rifle embodying thejnvention; 95

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the operating mechanism for the rifle; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on the line 12--12 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, the automatic pistol shown in Figs. 1 to 9 comprises a hollow handle or grip section 10 from which extends a magazine housing 11, the latter preferably being constructed integrally with the handle part 10. Mounted on the upper surface of the housing 11 is the barrel part 12 having de-' cartridge magazines 17 and 18, which are disposed directly beneath the barrels 15 and 16 respectively, and are arranged in parallel relationship. The magazines may be of any suitable construction having a follower 19 and a spring 20 urging the follower outwardly of the magazine to feed the cartridges in the usual manner. It is manifest that by so arranging the magazines beneath the barrels that a greater number of cartridges may be contained in the magazines than in the usual construction in which the magazine is mounted in the pistol handle.

Disposed above the handle part 10 and in rear of the magazine housing part 11 is a firing chamberhousing 21, on the upper portion of which is a breech block 22. The breech block 22 is slidably mounted on the housing 21, interfitting flanges 23 and 24 on the block and housing respectively, guiding the movements of the breech block. Formed in the breech block 22 is a longitudinally extending reeess'25, which is open at its outer end, and

disposed within this recess is a coil spring 26, the outer end of which abuts against an extension on the housing part 21. This spring servesto cushion the force of the recoil of thebreech block 22 after each firing opera-,

tion, and tends to return the block to normal position.

Disposed on opposite sides of the tubular recess 25 are tubular recesses 27 and 28, in which are reciprocable striker rods 29 having striker pins 30, which are projectable through openings 31 in one end of the breech block. It will be observed that a striker pin 3O is provided for each of the barrels 15 and 16, and, as will hereinafter appear, the pins may be actuated simultaneously in order to discharge or fire the cartridges in both barrels at the same time. A coil spring 32 isdisposed in each recess 27 for urging pins 30 to firing position, the outer ends of the spring 32 hearing against projections on the housing 21.

Depending from the rear end portion of the striker bars 29 are lugs 33, which are engageable. by catches 34 which are adapted to hold the strikers in cocked position ready for firing. A catch 34 is provided for each of the strikers, and the catches are mounted on a shaft 35, the ends of which are mounted in opposite sides of the housing 21. Formed on the lower part of each catch 34 is a cam surface, and each cam surface 36 engages a cam 37. The cam 37 is mounted on a shaft 38, the ends of which are mounted in opposite sides of the housing 21. Secured to the shaft 38 and projecting therefrom is an arm 39 which has a pin and elongate slot connection with the outer end of a lever 40 in the form of a bell crank, which is mounted on a shaft 41. Engageable with theopposite end of the lever 40 is a block 42 having a pin extending through an opening in the housing 21. X trigger 43 is connected to the outer end of the pin and a coil spring 44 bears against the housing 21 and trigger 43, respectively.

When the trigger 43 is pressed or pushed inwardly the bell crank 40 is moved in a clockwise direction, thereby causing movement of the arm 39 and cams 37 in a counter clockwise direction. Movement of the cams 37 in this direction moves the catches 34 in a counter clockwise direction, thereby releasing the lugs 33 and allowing the strikers t-o snap by the force of the springs 32 to firing position. So long as the trigger 43 remains depressed the pistol will fire until the cartridges in the magazines are depleted. When the trigger 43 is released a U-shaped leaf spring 45, having one end secured to the handle 10, bears at its opposite ends against the cams 37 to return the catches 34 to operative position for engaging the striker lugs 33 and holding the strikers in cocked position.

A safety deviceis provided for preventing accidental discharge of the weapon. As shown, a catch 46 mounted on a transverse shaft 47 is adapted to be moved beneath the outer end of a plate member 48 secured to the shaft 38, thereby preventing counter clockwise movement of the catches 34. An arm 49 connected to the shaft 47 is disposed on the outer side of the firearm to enable the catch 46 to be readily manipulated.

The force of the recoil is imparted to the breech block 22, and, as will hereinafter be described, upon each recoil movement of the breech block 22, the fired cartridges are automatically discharged and fresh cartridges are delivered to the .barrels. Depending from the underside of the breech block 22 is a rearwardly disposed hook 50, which is engageable with a sleeve 51 secured to the end of a cable 52. The cable 52 may be of wire, or other suitable material of sufficient flexibility. The cable 52 passes around a sheave 53, which is rotatable on a transverse shaft 54. The opposite end of the cable is secured to a collar end of the stem 56 is a cartridge feeder plate 57, which, as shown in Fig. 8, has oppositely cartridges to be fed simultaneously from the magazines 17 and 18 to the barrels 15 and 16, res ectively. I

he stem 56 extends into a tubular barrel V 60, which is secured in place in the handle the flanges on the shells.

10. Disposed within the barrel and encircling the stem 56 is a coil spring 61 bearing at One end against a nut 62 secured to the barrelGO, and, at the opposite end against a collar 63 formed on the end of the stem 56. It is apparent that when the breech block 22 is moved rearwardly, either manually or by the force of the recoil, the hook 50 engages the sleeve 51, moving the latter rearwardly and through thecable 52, draws the feeder plate 57 upwardly to engage the rearmost cartridges in the magazines 17 and 18 and moves the latter upwardly in a forwardly inclined direction into the barrels 15 and 16 respectively. Concomitant with this movement the shells which have previously been fired are withdrawn from the barrels by spring arms 64 having lugs 65 which engage The operation is such that the discharged shells are moved rearwardly upon recoil movement of the breech block and are discharged through side openings 66 in the opposite sides of the breech block. and at the same time fresh cartridges are moved into firing position.

In Fig. 9 the cable 52 is connected directly to the feed plate 57 instead of to the collar 55, as above described, thus providing an alternate manner of securing the parts together. It is to be understood that the trigger 43 may be of different construction from that above described, and may be differently positioned, if desired. For example, the trigger may be disposed in the front part of the pistol. grip 10 instead of the rear part, and it is not intended that this invention is confined to the particular construction or positioning of=the trigger.

It isdesirable to limit the forward movement of the sleeve 51 and arrange the same in such manner that it will always be engaged by the hook or finger 50 upon recoil movement of the breech block. For this purpose stationary plates 67 are disposed on opposite sides of the sheave 53, and are provided with a hook shapedupper end to engage pins 68 projecting fromopposite sides of the sleeve 51. By this means the sleeve 50 is always disposed in the proper position-upon the recoil movement of the breech block 22.

From the above description, it is apparent that both barrels may be fired together and firing continues until the trigger 43 is re- C, which hold the magazine 17 and 18 in po- I sition, is releasedsufiiciently to move the retion applied to an automatic rifle. It will be seen from the length of the magazine housing 11 that the magazines 69may'be of consider I able length and hold a very large number of cartridges. The outstanding importance and advantage of this feature will at once be apparent. The construction and operation of the mechanism for the rifle are substantially as above described, some slight modifications being necessary in view of the difierence in the handle or butt construction of the two weapons. Instead of employing a single cable for the feeder plate 57 a two cables are employed 52", which leads from the sleeve 51 over the sheave 53. to the feeder plate 57 and a cable 52 which extends from the feeder plate 57* around a sheave 70 to a spring device, as above described. This arrangement is necessary since the spring device is preferably positioned at an angle with respect to the movement of the feeder plate.

In this form the trigger 43 is provided with a cam block 71 having a cam surface 72 engageable with a depending end portion 7 3 of a slide arm 74. The opposite end of the slide arm extends upwardly and has a pin and slot connection with the arm 39, as above described. It will be apparent that upon depression of the trigger 43 the slide arm 74 is moved to the right of Fig. 11 imparting counter clockwise movement to the arm 39. When the trigger is released a leaf spring device 45 returns the parts to normal position;

It is to be understood that the above description is given by way of illustration only, and this invention is not confined to the embodiments shown on. the accompanying drawings, since it is within the purview of my invention to change the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic firearm, a pair of barrels, a magazine for each barrel disposed directly beneath the respective barrel, and mechanism operated by the force of recoil for automatically feeding cartridges from both magazines to the respective barrels, said me ehanism including a feeder, and cable means for-actuating said feeder in. one direction.

-2. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a

magazine disposed longitudinally of said barrel and directly therebeneath and adapted to deliver a cartridge in upwardly inclined position, a feeder adapted to engage a cartridge from said magazine and move same inclinedly upward, and recoil-0' rated means for automatically actuating said feeder for advancing azine to said barrel.

3. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a magazine disposed longitudinally of said barrel and directly therebeneath and adapted to deliver a cartridge in upwardly inclined position, a feeder adapted to engage a cartridge from said magazine and movesame inclinedly upward, recoil-operated means for automatically actuating said feeder for advancing a cartridge from said magazine to said barrel, and means to return said feeder to normal position.

4. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a cartridge magazine extending longitudinally of and disposed directly beneath said barrel,

recoil-operated means to feed cartridges from said magazine to said barrel, said means including a reciprocable breech block, a feeder engageable with cartridges in said magazine and movable toward and from said barrel, means yieldingly retaining said feeder away from said barrel, a cable extending from said feeder, and interengageable means on said cable and breech block for imparting movement to said feeder during recoil movement of said breech block.

5. In an automatic firearm, a barrel, a cartridge magazine, and means to feed cartridges from said magazine to said barrel, said means comprising a reciprocable breech block, a slidable feeder for advancing cartridges from said magazine to said barrel, a cable extending from said feeder, a sheave guiding the movements of said cable, and interengageable means on said cable and breech block for imparting feeding movement to said feeder upon movement of sai i breech block in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

ONORATI UMBERTU.

a cartridge from said mag- 

